Behavior
In general, the labyrinth fish are carnivores that eat small aquatic organisms and carrion. Some species will also consume algae and water plants. Most fish are active during daytime but several African species feed at twilight and night. Species of the genus Colisa can spit water toward insects to bring them down to the water surface, similarly to the archerfish behavior.
Labyrinth fish are well known for their bubble nesting behavior, although some species do not build bubble nests and employ other methods of brooding. For the bubble nesting species, males establish nesting territories and defend them vigorously. As the name suggests, the bubble nests are floating bubbles coated with oral mucus from the males. Typically, the male bubble nesters stay nearby to guard the nests and constantly retrieve any falling eggs and fry to the nest. Some Betta species from fast-flowing waters, however, are mouthbrooders and do not build bubble nests. In these species, males hold the eggs and fry in their mouth and release the free-swimming fry about a week to ten days after spawning.
Read more about this topic: Anabantoidei
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